Bida (Niger) – The Technology Incubation Centre (ITC) says it has strategised to improve on the use of technology to create jobs in the country.
The Director General of the Centre, Dr Muhammad Tijjani, stated this on Friday during a visit to the Emir of Bida, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar in Bida, Niger.
He said that this would complement the efforts of the new administration in empowering Nigerians and creating wealth.
“Our 30 centres across the country have been directed to concentrate on the comparative technological advantage of each state.
“The entrepreneurs engaged in the fields of agriculture, solid mineral, ICT and the rest will be pooled in our centres to provide environment conducive for developing and marketing their products.
“The genuine entrepreneurs and inventors as well as investors are going to find the right channel of collaboration in our centres.
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” The centres’ enormous contributions may not be measured in terms of Naira and Kobo; Nigerians will enjoy the advantage of local technology of international standards and save foreign exchange used in importation of such products.”
Earlier, Abubakar called for the fabrication of products that would reduce time and energy spent by local entrepreneurs in their business.
He decried the lack of interest by youths in taking up jobs done by the elders.
“When you visit Masaga area of Bida, you see our blacksmiths still blowing fire with their hands and smoke filling their eyes. This did not encourage youths at all.
“The youths will be encouraged when they see innovations fashioned to do these jobs easier.
“That is what they see daily in internet and it will make them sit up and stop looking for white collar jobs that is no longer there,” he said.
Mr Zakariah Tukura, the Minna TIC Manager, told NAN that the Emir had donated a building to the Centre to encourage the youth in embracing entrepreneurs within the emirate.
“A convenient building with vast expanse of land was donated by the emirate through the Usman Zaki Foundation for our use.
“It will start operation before the end of March when we must have secured it by providing security, electricity and perimeter fence.
“This new site will serve as a stop gap for those who are around Bida and its environs to access our facilities. We will also collaborate with the various research centres in Bida for optimal result,” he said. (NAN)